OPC Servers

[jey11]

Viewing the Existing PLCs’ OPC Tags in NI OPC Servers

1. Launch NI OPC Servers by selecting Start » Programs » National Instruments » NI OPC Servers » NI OPC Servers.  With NI-OPC Servers, we can create, configure and view tags that are linked to our PLCs. 
2. NI OPC Servers should launch with a PLC simulation project already loaded.  This project simulates PLCs that have already been created and configured in NI OPC Servers.

Hi All,

      I am using Labview 8.5 Evalation ver for Industrial control and measurements. Downloaded from the http://digital.ni.com/demo.nsf/websearch/839357D8D659E9F1862573A600551C79?OpenDocument&node=157200_U....

I try to launch NI OPC Servers, I not able to locate as mentioned above step 1. Do I have to download any other add on software or etc.

Please let me know. Thanks for your help.

Jey

[TMC-NI]

Hi Jey,

That is very odd.  I've browsed to the online demo you have included, after the activeX control, etc. loaded onto my system, I saw a virtual PC type environment.  Then I could browse to Start-->Programs-->National Instruments-->NI OPC Servers as described in the tutorial.  This should be the case for everyone as long as the tutorial loaded correctly since it is not downloading or really installing anything to your computer.  It is completely a virtual tutorial.  Are you actually in the virtual PC environment?

I'm including the screenshots I have from this virtual PC environment (actually you are connecting to one of our servers in a private network to actually try out NI products for three hours), and I've gone through the same link as you have included to get to this environment.

Turning off all pop-up blockers and using Internet Explorer 5.0 and above may let you see this environment if you do not currently seeing it.  Otherwise, maybe we can try something different.

[jey11]

Thanks for your support. Can I download NI OPC Servers Eval Version. Could give me the link?

I have to try out with Omron PLC. If it works, we will go for the full package.

Thanks

Jey

[jey11]

Online evaluation is showing OPC Servers as you mentioned. I download the Labview 8.5 eval ver, not showing the OPC Servers.

Thanks

Jey

[TMC-NI]

I am sorry but we do not offer the evaluation version for download.  The only way to evaluate the OPC servers is by doing the online evaluation.

You can find the individual supported devices (including Omron) at this link: http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/6417

[CHKong]

Hi,

   I managed to launch OPC server with the default PLC simulation project that comes with it. However, upon running the OPC server with the Modbus slave simulator provided by the DSC module, the OPC server replied saying that it's unable to detect the device. May I asked if in the first place, is it possible for the OPC server to be able to detect any virtual slave simulators developed via Labview or would it only work for real PLC devices? Thanks.

Best Regards,

Choong How

[amezam]

You should be able to simulate a device using the NI OPC Server, please make sure you have this option enabled.

[CHKong]

Hi,

   Thanks for your suggestion. I've tried that but it does not seem to be working either. What I had intended to do is something as shown in this attached screenshot. That is, to be able to pull data from the provided Modbus simulator by labview into the NI OPC server but somehow, the server is unable to detect this virtual device/instrument as seen from the log file.

Best Regards,

Choong How

[Himanshu_Goyal]

Hi,

May be I am not well understanding query well but I have some doubts that needs your assistance.

OPC server should be installed in your PLC, so on desktop side why we are looking for server according to me you must go with OPC Client.

Open OPC client and network devices and on network you can get your OPC server list available on network list. You can select your OPC server and select auto populating tags. If you want to choose tag you can create channels and configure tags.

[CHKong]

Hi,

  I'm rather new to OPC and I'm not too sure as to whether the server should be installed into the PLC. On the desktop side, I'm not looking for server. Rather, I'm trying to get the server to detect the PLC. My basic understanding of how this whole thing works is based on this picture as shown in http://www.opcdatahub.com/WhatIsOPC.html. The way I set up the test experiment is based on my understanding that the PLC could be represented by the Modbus Simulator and that this PLC could reside either on the same host as the OPC server or on another remote host. I did not venture into OPC client for now because I wanted to make sure that the OPC server is able to detect the Modbus Simulator, connect to it and auto populate the corresponding tags. If I had understand wrongly how OPC is supposed to work or if it should not be as what it's shown on the link, please do enlightened me. Thanks.

Best Regards,

Choong How